DUBAI, May 1 (Xinhua) -- As many as 41 percent of Gulf-based enterprises said they had been hacked in the past 12 months, compared with 28 percent in 2016, United Arab Emirates' (UAE's) state news agency WAM report on Tuesday.

Only 31 percent of the regional organizations were concerned about detection and response to attacks, read the seventh Annual Cybersecurity Study revealed Tuesday by the Gulf Business Machines (GBM) on 2018 Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC) in Dubai.

It is crucial for organizations to understand that preparation for a security breach should not only focus on preventative tactics, but also to invest in resources that can help detect and respond, said Hani Nofal, vice president of the intelligent network solutions, security and mobility at GBM.

The security survey also revealed that up to 79 percent of the respondents believed their company currently has an effective security strategy program in place.

The report further indicated that 32 percent of the Gulf organizations do not have a Security Operations Center (SOC), so there could be an intrusion within their system that they are unaware of.

Moreover, 81 percent of respondents preferred having their security operations on premise. Earlier in April, France's technology and defense group Thales announced the launch of a cyber hub that will serve the UAE and wider Middle East.

Also in April, U.S. Internet of Things (IoT) firm ForeScout Technologies, which set up a base in Dubai, said it would expand its operations in the region in relation to cyber security, as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE have embarked on ambitious plans for economic reform.